Watchcase and the like



Jan. 10, 1928. 1,655,411

5. BRUNER WATCKCASE AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 20, 1926 INVENTOR J BR UNfB ATTORNEW watch face or to set the or imitation stones 1n a Patented Jan. it), 1928.

UNITED P A T E N T G F Fl *3 E SIMON 'BIi-UNEE, 0FFAR R0CKAW' AY, NE'W YORK.

W'A'lCI-ICLASE AN D THE LIKE.

Application filed November 20, 1928. Serial No. 149,587.

This invention relatesto themanufacture of n atches and more particularly to so-called wrist watches and the like.

In the production of a watch, the casing or enclosin structure plays an important part, especially in the product-ion of wrist watches where the shape of-the face or bezel for securing the crystal-may vary to a considerable degree in its configuration. Wrist watches are, of course, so worn that the facing thereof is constantly'exhibited and for the purpose of making tl e exposed area of the article more ornamental it has been the practice to-engrave or otherwise decorate the same with precious pleasing and ornamental manner.

As watch cases. had heretofore been made the shell, that is the casing proper, which encloses the movement was made with the bezel as an integral part thereof and constructed of relatively heavy material in order to provide material for anengraving operation or for the setting ofstones. Developments-in the i ewelry industry, however, made it necessary to reduce the costof'manufacture of such watches but at the same time maintain a watch which to all appearances remained the same as a more costly article.

For the purpose of attaining the above end I provide a watch composed of two parts, one a shell which may be of extremely thin material thus greatly diminishing the cost, and second a supplemental facing of sutficient thickness to permit engraving or stamping or the mounting of an ornamental array of stones. When providing the supplemental facing or trimming, however, I so form the same as to include a bezel to receive a crystal. The advantage of a bezel as a separate part of a watch casing is obvious since the same may be more easily made with the necessary degree of accuracy than is practical when the bezel is part of the unitary casing or shell.-

In carrying out my invention further I provide the supplemental facing in the form of a pleasing design and produce a bezel with a fanciful frame or trimming which gives the article a distinct and unique effect. When providing such a frame or trimming have found that exceptionally artistic re sults may be obtained if the shell portion of the casing is made of a metal of one color and the trimming of a metal of another color, as for example one part of the com- Fig. 4 and having the posite casing may be white gold and the other yellow gold. The frame portion of the bezel may be further enhanced in appearance by an inlay of another color as for instance a design in black outline may be imparted to the frame.

From the foregoing it will be evident. that not only does the present invention serve to reduce the cost of manufacture of engravedor otherwise ornamented watch cases but a more desirable and salable article is obtained.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a view of a shell or casing for enclosing a movement and having an aperture to expose the dial thereof.

Fig. 2 is a casing with a supplemental facing and bezel applied thereto.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line IIIIII in Fig. 2.

Fig. at is a. shell or casing of another shape popular in wrist watches.

Fig. 5 is a combined bezel and frame or trimming applicable for use in connection with the shell shown in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a casing of the type shown in. bezel and frame shown in Fig. 5 applied thereto.

As illustrated a shell or casing 10 may have one side thereof provided with an aperture 11 through which a dial or face of a watch mechanism or movement may be exposed. The casing is ordinarily made of relatively heavy sheet metal inasmuch as the top surface 12 must be sufficiently thick to receive a stamping or engraving. In my construction, however, I may provide a relatively thin sheet metal casing and in order to provide for the stamping or engraving I reenforce the upper surface thereof by applying thereto a supplemental layer of metal in the form of a frame 12. This frame is provided with an aperture 13 of substantially the same configuration as the aperture 11 so that when the frame is in place the edges of the aperture will coincide. The aperture 13, however, is constructed with a flanged edge 14 to constitute a bezel to which the usual glass or crystal is applied.

lVhen the frame 12 is in position on the casing it may be secured by brazing or soldering and tie casing although of relatively cheap construction in so far as an economy of metal is concerned is nevertheless of sutfiness is distributed over the area where it is necessary as above set forth.

The composite casing just described oludes a bezel and frame which covers whole upper surface of the casing. As shown in Figs. l through 6, however, a casing 15 is provided with an aperture 16, and a combined bezel and frame 17 may be applied thereto. With this Construction a portion the bezel.

of the casing is plainly visible after the bezel and frame have been applied thereto. The frame surrounding the bezel being in the nature of a trimming may be of any fanciful design. By reason of the novel form of frame surrounding the bezel I am able to produce striking effects in watch manufacture since it is thus possible to.c0mbine metals of different colors, as for example the casing may be of white gold and the frame or trimming of yel ow or green gold.

Ordinarily a combination of two different colored metals would be difficult to obtain and costly to produce in a practical manner. The present invention, therefore, not only serves to improve the manufacture of watch casings from a structural standpoint but lends itself to theornamentation of the casing making a more desirable and saleable article. Furthermore,the frame surrounding the bezel adds strength to the edge of the aperture of the shell and provides a more rugged and sturdy construction in wrist watches. p w

' It is to be understood that watch cases of any size or shape may be provided with the present form of bezel and that any combination of metals may be employed; The invention resides in the provision :of a bezel iii-- the I the said wall.

the frame may be broken into a plurality of tabs or may have rays simulating a star or like shape. Such'construction is contemplated by me since my invention includes any surrounding structure in combination with Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein, it is to be understood that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. i

What is claimed isz 1. A. composite watch case comprising'a shell having an aperture in one wall thereof, a bezel in said aperture and a frame extending from said bezel to reenforce said wall.

2. A watch case having one wall apertured to receive a bezel, a bezel having a flange extending from its perimeter secured in said aperture, said flange covering and reenforcing part of the surface of said wall so as to leave visible a'portion of the surface of the casingsurrounding said flange 3. A watch case bezel stamped from sheet met-a1 and having a'flange for attaching the bezel to a wall of a case and for reenforcing 4. A watch case bezel formed of sheet metal and having one or more projections for attaching the bezel to a wall of a casing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

SIMONBBUNER. 

